We’re a Communication Friendly School!
We are delighted to share that our school has been accredited as a Communication Friendly School through the nationally recognised Elklan training programme. This prestigious status demonstrates our whole-school commitment to building a communication-rich environment where every child’s speech, language, and communication needs (SLCN) are supported and understood.
In our school, communication is at the heart of learning and well-being. This accreditation ensures that all staff are equipped with the knowledge and practical strategies to enhance the communication skills of all pupils, particularly those who require extra support.
We are also proud to confirm that our Early Years department has achieved the specific Communication Friendly Setting status. This was expertly led by our EYFS Lead, Miss Moneypenny.
This means our youngest learners benefit from an environment where language and communication development are proactively supported through intentional resources, high-quality adult-child interactions, and a clear focus on the ‘Word Journey’ and ‘Language Journey’ for all children.
Our Staff Training Journey with Elklan
Our dedicated staff have undertaken rigorous, accredited training to become Communication Leaders and Practitioners, ensuring high-quality, embedded practice across the school.
Lead Communication Practitioner (Level 4): Our SENCO, Mrs. Howard, has achieved the Elklan Level 4 qualification. This advanced accreditation signifies her expertise in cascading essential knowledge and support strategies to the entire staff team, leading the final whole-school audit, and maintaining our Communication Friendly School status.
Communication Practitioners (Level 3): Our Teaching Assistants, Mrs. Nicholls and Mrs. Ross, have successfully completed their Elklan Level 3 accreditation (Speech and Language Support for 5-11s). This training equips them with the practical skills and strategies to deliver effective, targeted support to pupils with SLCN in their day-to-day work.
Elklan Training is an evidence-based programme that provides school staff with the knowledge and practical strategies typically used by Speech and Language Therapists. By training staff, Elklan helps us to effectively support children’s speech, language, and communication within the classroom, making our universal provision stronger. If you believe your child may have difficulties in this area, please do speak with us and we will be happy to share ideas on how we can work together to support your child’s communication skills.